The purpose of this study was to determine if Gulf War
veterans with complaints of severe fatigue and/or chemical
sensitivity (n = 72) fulfill case definitions for chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity
(MCS) and to compare the characteristics of those veterans who
received a diagnosis of CFS (n = 24) to a group of
non-veterans diagnosed with CFS (n = 95). Thirty-three
veterans received a diagnosis of CFS with 14 having MCS
concurrently; an additional six had MCS but did not fulfill a
case definition for CFS. The group of fatigued veterans
receiving a diagnosis of CFS was comprised of significantly
fewer women and fewer Caucasians than the civilian group, and
significantly fewer veterans reported a sudden onset to their
illness. Veterans with CFS had a milder form of the illness
than their civilian counterparts based on medical examiner
assessment of the severity of the symptoms, reported days of
reduced activity, and ability to work. Since CFS in veterans
seems less severe than that seen in civilians, the prognosis
for recovery of veterans with this disorder may be better.